title: Inhibitory effect of geraniol in combination with gemcitabine on proliferation of BXPC-3 human pancreatic cancer cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the inhibitory effect of geraniol alone, or in combination with gemcitabine, on the proliferation of BXPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  BXPC-3 cells were treated under different conditions: with geraniol at 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 µmol/l each for 24 h, 48 h or 72 h; with 20 µmol/l geraniol for 24 h or 0 h before 20 µmol/l gemcitabine for 24 h; with 20 µmol/l geraniol for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h following 20 µmol/l gemcitabine for 24 h; or with 20 µmol/l gemcitabine alone as a control. Cell proliferation was assessed and changes in cell morphology were assessed by light and fluorescence microscopy. Apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Geraniol inhibited BXPC-3 cell proliferation in a time- and dosa-dependent manner. Geraniol alone or combined with gemcitabine induced BXPC-3 cell apoptosis. BXPC-3 inhibition rates with combined treatment were 55.24%, 50.69%, 49.83%, 41.85% and 45.27% following treatment with 20 µmol/l geraniol for 24 h or 0 h before 20 µmol/l gemcitabine for 24 h, or 20 µmol/l geraniol for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, following 20 µmol/l gemcitabine for 24 h, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Geraniol inhibited the proliferation of BXPC-3 cells. Geraniol significantly increased the antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects of gemcitabine on BXPC-3 cells. Maximum inhibition of BXPC-3 cells was achieved with geraniol treatment for 24 h before gemcitabine treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China. jinxiaoxin1980@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Xiaoxin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jichun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiongyong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Guoli
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dewu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D013729:Terpenes; D003841:Deoxycytidine; C007836:geraniol; D000093542:Gemcitabine
keywords: BXPC-3 cells; Geraniol; combination; gemcitabine; human pancreatic cancer cells